Friday, August 26, 2011

Live Blogging Nationwide Series From Bristol (ESPN - 7PM ET)

As the Nationwide Series race approaches, the weather in Bristol, TN is "iffy." Not originally on the list of issues, it looks like rain might play a role in tonight's event.

Nicole Briscoe has Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty in the Infield Pit Studio tonight. Expect these three and a lot of guests to pass the time if the raindrops fall. Briscoe has done a solid job of directing traffic, but she can't control some of the gems that come from her two analysts.

Marty Reid returns to work the race tonight with Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree. Allen Bestwick is designated for the Sprint Cup Series events. Reid was demoted this season and the spotlight is squarely on his ability to deliver under pressure.

Jarrett and Petree have been solid, but the one reason did not return to the Cup races was the lack of chemistry between these three. It should be fun to watch this dynamic play-out on the air tonight.

Bristol is a mess for TV. There is just no good way to get a quality product on the air with the amount of commercial inventory ESPN carries. There is no RaceBuddy for the Nationwide races, so TV is the only source for video.

With laps around 15 seconds, each 30 second commercial element covers two laps. It's a tough task to integrate commercials on this track with a race that features long green flag runs. Only lots of caution flag periods change the game.

The same ESPN battle that has been discussed on this blog for the last four seasons will again be a topic. Seeing the race involves wideshots, aerial angles and the search for the best racing on the track regardless of position. It does not involve in-car cameras on restarts, key passes or live during accidents. It does not involve following the leaders.

ESPN has changed a lot of things behind the scenes. Let's see if it makes a difference tonight.

This post will serve to host your comments on the ESPN coverage of the Nationwide Series race from the Bristol Motor Speedway. To add your TV-related opinion, just click on the comments button below. Thanks for taking the time to stop by.

I live about 50 miles east of the track near I-81. I have seen the fewest RVs on the way to Bristol this year tha I can remember. The local motels that are normally full are not filled this year. I hope it is just the economy and the east coast weather.

@OSBORNK...Maybe the notels will finally get realistic about the prices they charge for the races, especially since Bristol races aren't as generally unique and popular as they used to be. (pun intended) ;-)

OABORNK...I remember how I felt the electricity at the track just drain out of the crowd about the time the 'chase' happened and all the drivers got really polite. I used to love going to the races there!

The thing that really winds my clock is when you wait for a pit stop and new tires to watch the fast cars come through the field and these DUMMIES can not understand That is the RACE. They show pics so tight that you cannot follow the action and you totally loose the perspective of the race.

I haven't read any of the comments yet but I will. I was watching the Packer game and record this race and just got done watching it.The start of the race when they threw the green flag and all you saw was tail lights I could just hear JD going nuts.Marty Reed may think a car is in trouble because it is throwing sparks but he knows how many lead changes there were and by how many drivers.Jamie Little may be trying out for the booth with her play by play while doing through the fieldKenny Wallace hits the wall because they say he had a tire go down and then we don't hear why he is still sitting in the pits until 66 laps to go.I thought the camera shots were to tight. The cars they would zoom on would be having a battle and with no warning they would go to another camera. Why to much jumping around.

I watched this race from the Allison Terrace behind the flagstand. This provided me with the opportunity to watch the race unfold, following the story lines as they developed and watching the cars as they moved up and down in the running order passing for position. I had no problem finding interesting little plotlets that I knew I should keep my eyes on, for these developments would lead to incidents laps later in the race. I kept one eye on the big screen in the middle of the infield for this was the best example of television's skill. I kept noticing the images displayed had little to do with the race I was watching, so I switched my scanner over to the television frequency featuring the producer's voice over the booth voices. I then realized this guy was making television! That's what he does. His job is television and he has no passion for motor racing. That's the problem.